The failures in pass protection during Thursday’s 41-6 loss, reminiscent of the backup line’s work against the Seahawks in the exhibition opener, seemed to anger rookie head coach Mike McCoy.

He confronted the blockers when they reached the sideline. Gesturing and yelling, he made an emphatic point to them.

Starks will be charged with two, maybe three, of the four sacks in the half. On the Chargers’ final series, undrafted rookie Nick Becton replaced Starks at left tackle, and Starks did not return.

Another sack came against right tackle Michael Harris, who was beaten off the ball by 49ers rookie Corey Lemonier.

Whitehurst had scant opportunity to scramble. In addition to the sacks, he was hurried into an interception that set up San Francisco’s second touchdown.

Starks, 31, is a respected veteran on the line. He was the only Steelers offensive lineman to start all 16 games in 2012. The Chargers’ starter at left tackle, King Dunlap, has said he’s sought advice from the 10-year veteran, who started two Super Bowl victories for the Steelers.

“He’s been in the league longer than I have, and there are things I can learn from him,” Dunlap said in training camp.

But it appears that Starks is on the outside looking in as cut day approaches. The Chargers signed him to a one-year contract in May.

Foot off the gas

Many Chargers were rested Thursday.

Brandon Taylor took a breather for reasons related to his right knee.

The strong safety underwent reconstructive surgery in January to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last December. He began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and made his debut last week in Arizona.

That’s enough for now.

The team has decided to slow things down, as a source called the knee “close to all the way healthy, but not there yet.” Taylor was a third-round draft pick in 2012.

Nuts ’n’ Bolts

• Chargers kicker Nick Novak made a big hit during a first-quarter kickoff, turning his shoulder and cleaning up 49ers safety Michael Thomas at the back end of the play. Afterward, Novak ran to the sideline for a jumping celebration with linebacker Donald Butler.